Arts Award on Voice

Gold is about preparing you for the creative industries - in a way A levels don't often do (in my opinion). Keeping a broad cultural experience is exciting.

OK so I will give you a run down of my arts story, but the prevailing point I want to make is that everybody is unique. You will have your own experiences, your own opportunities, and can master your own arts story.

Outreach programmes and 'making art accessible' are not about belittling it, relying on 'amateur' work, or squeezing it into strange places.

Literature isn't always the first art form that comes to mind for many. But wow is that a mistake. I personally enjoy reading a good book - it's just finding the time. It can certainly be more fulfilling than watching the film equivalent.

Shakespeare has been a hot topic for the last month and I've thoroughly enjoyed the range of content produced by our own team, our new youth network team members, and well of course you all creating some interesting reviews and items.

Through December Arts Award Voice has been running a theme selected by the Ikon Youth Programme, hidden cities. When I was in conversations with them over 2 months ago (wow time has flown) there were all sorts of ideas for a theme, food art being one. But this post isn't about what could have been, it's about what is.

My usual ramblings this month are joined by what I hope is of some interest to some of you, an outline of how we arrived at the new homepage we launched recently.

I start writing this in a place ideal for contemplating rural arts, the New Forest. Having spent a week down on the south coast, the fresh air and rurality reminds me of where I grew up. I've lived in cities for the last 6 years and a large town for about 5 years before that, so rural arts had become a thing of the past.

Life's a laugh sometimes isn't it? And frankly so can be gaining your qualifications!

I've enjoyed reading the articles and items posted to voice just in the first week or so of the month. I'm sure there's many more to come!

The team have covered numerous festivals which have all ranged in shape and style so much that what 'defines a festival' cannot be anything material. For me I think it must be about the passion and shared values of the audience & creators.

Halloween to me always seems like a great opportunity for interactive arts And creating daring work. My background is Theatre and the concept of Theatre of the Oppressed excites me. Direct audience engagement and creating something that not only wows audiences but brings them in as participants too.